Description

As the name suggests, the flowers of this species are larger and showier than many of the others in its family. Flat topped, branching flower clusters are violet coloured with yellow centers. The stems are hairy and the leaves vary between oblong, spoon and lance shaped. The plants are just about as wide as they are tall at maturity – around 2′ each way. They will grow in a variety of habitats from moist to drier and full sun to part shade. Showy Asters provide late season food for pollinators and often turn maroon coloured in the fall, so they maintain their appeal long after many other plants have have gone to sleep for the winter.